noun
Uncommon
pip
pihp
Pip (noun) means a small hard seed found in fruits such as apples, oranges, or grapes. Example: “She spat out the pips as she ate the orange.”
noun
1
A small hard seed found in fruits such as apples, oranges, or grapes.
"She spat out the pips as she ate the orange."
2
A short, high-pitched electronic beep, especially one used to mark time (such as a radio time signal).
"Listeners set their watches by the pips on the radio."
3
One of the small marks or symbols on a playing card, die, or domino, or a rank badge worn on a military uniform.
"The dice showed six pips on each face."
How to use pip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small fruit seed, a short electronic beep, or one of the dot-markings on dice, cards, or a military uniform.
UK vs US
The radio time-signal sense ("the pips") is distinctly British.
Common pairings
apple pip
the pips on the radio
squeeze until the pips squeak
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Word forms
- Plural
- pips
- Third person singular
- pips
- Past tense
- pipped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She spat out the _____ as she ate the orange.
Etymology
From Middle English pippe, tracing back to Latin pituita ("phlegm, mucus"), an unusual detour before it settled on "seed."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “pip” mean?
The word “pip” means a small hard seed found in fruits such as apples, oranges, or grapes. In plain terms, a small fruit seed, a short electronic beep, or one of the dot-markings on dice, cards, or a military uniform.
How do you pronounce “pip”?
“Pip” is pronounced pihp (/pɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “pip” in a sentence?
Here is “pip” used in a sentence: “She spat out the pips as she ate the orange.”
What part of speech is “pip”?
“Pip” is a noun.
Where does the word “pip” come from?
The word “pip” comes from Latin. From Middle English pippe, tracing back to Latin pituita ("phlegm, mucus"), an unusual detour before it settled on "seed.".
Is “pip” a common word?
“Pip” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pip” have?
“Pip” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small hard seed found in fruits such as apples, oranges, or grapes.
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